Neoregelia plant named ‘Gaia’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Neoregelia  plant named ‘Gaia’, characterized by its broad and outwardly arching growth habit; leaves that are arching and recurved in aspect; leaves that are light yellow green in color with distinct dark green-colored outer stripes and margins; upper leaves are red purple in color when flower development commences; and good interiorscape and landscape performance.

Botanical designation: Neoregelia carolinae X (Neoregelia princeps XNeoregelia hybrida).

Cultivar denomination: ‘GAIA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofNeoregelia plant, botanically known as Neoregelia carolinae X(Neoregelia princeps X Neoregelia hybrida), and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Gaia’.

The new Neoregelia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Princeton, Fla. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new Neoregelia plants with uniquelycolored leaves.

The new Neoregelia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in 2010 in Princeton, Fla. of an unnamed proprietary selectionof Neoregelia carolinae, not patented, as the female, or seed, parentwith an unnamed proprietary selection of Neoregelia princeps XNeoregelia hybrida, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. Thenew Neoregelia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as asingle plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Princeton, Fla. in 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Neoregelia plant by offsets in acontrolled environment in Princeton, Fla. since 2011, has shown that theunique features of this new Neoregelia plant are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Neoregelia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Gaia’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Gaia’ as a new and distinct Neoregelia plant:

-   -   1. Broad and outwardly arching growth habit.    -   2. Leaves that are arching and recurved in aspect.    -   3. Leaves that are light yellow green in color with distinct        dark green-colored outer stripes and margins; upper leaves are        red purple in color when flower development commences.    -   4. Good interiorscape and landscape performance.

Plants of the new Neoregelia differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia are more arching than        and not as horizontal as leaves of plants of the female parent        selection.    -   2. Upper leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia develop red        purple coloration when flowering whereas upper leaves of plants        of the female parent selection are reddish orange when        flowering.    -   3. Plants of the new Neoregelia and the female parent selection        differ in leaf color as leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia        are at least 80% light yellow green in color whereas leaves of        plants of the female parent selection are 50% light yellow green        in color.

Plants of the new Neoregelia differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Upper leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia develop red        purple coloration when flowering whereas upper leaves of plants        of the male parent selection are dark pink when flowering.    -   2. Plants of the new Neoregelia and the male parent selection        differ in leaf color as leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia        have a broader light yellow green-colored area and fewer dark        green-colored stripes than leaves of plants of the male parent        selection.

Plants of the new Neoregelia can be compared to plants of the Neoregeliacarolinae X Neoregelia princeps ‘Mendoza’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 22,584. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Neoregeliaand ‘Mendoza’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia are more arching than        and not as upright as leaves of plants of ‘Mendoza’.    -   2. Plants of the new Neoregelia and ‘Mendoza’ differ in leaf        color as leaves of plants of the new Neoregelia are at least 80%        light yellow green in color whereas leaves of plants of        ‘Mendoza’ are 50% pale yellow green in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Neoregelia plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Neoregelia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a top perspective view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Gaia’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Gaia’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe flowering plants grown during the spring in 15-cmcontainers in a polypropylene-covered greenhouse in Princeton, Fla. andunder cultural practices typical of commercial Neoregelia production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C.to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C. and lightlevels about 2,500 foot-candles. Plants were 14 months old when thephotographs and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Neoregelia carolinae X (Neoregelia    princeps X Neoregelia hybrida) ‘Gaia’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Neoregelia carolinae, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Neoregelia princeps X Neoregelia hybrida, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By offsets.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 30 to 45 days at            ambient temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 45 to 60 days at            ambient temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            months at ambient temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            months at ambient temperatures about 18° C. to 22° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically brown to beige in            color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; sparse.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broad and outwardly arching growth            habit; leaves in rosettes; plants readily produce uniform            offsets; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 14.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 41 cm.        -   Internode length.—About 2 mm.        -   Stem diameter at the soil level.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Stem texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Stem color.—Close to NN155A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette, spiral phyllotaxis; simple; sessile,            clasping.        -   Shape.—Narrowly oblong with broader sheathing base.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate to short aristate.        -   Base.—Truncate, clasping.        -   Margin.—Serrate, spinose.        -   Length.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Width, mid-section.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Width, towards the base.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,            glabrous; leathery; narrowly and longitudinally ribbed;            glossy, shiny.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Lower leaves, upper surface: At least 80% of the            center of the leaf, closest to 151B; towards the base,            fading to close to 146D; margins and apex, close to 147A;            occasional longitudinal stripes, close to 144A and 146A;            venation, similar to lamina colors. Lower leaves, lower            surface: At least 80% of the center of the leaf, closest to            151B tinged with close to 146A; towards the base, fading to            close to 146C; margins and apex, close to 147A; occasional            longitudinal stripes, close to 144A and 146A; venation,            similar to lamina colors. Upper leaves, upper surface: Close            to 53A; venation, close to 53A; margins and apex, close to            147A. Upper leaves, lower surface: Close to 53A and 53B;            venation, close to 53A and 53B; margins and apex, close to            147A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence form.—Terminal flat-topped compact corymb            located inside the leaf rosette; about 48 flowers develop            per inflorescence.        -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about 60 to 80 days            weeks after planting; plants flower naturally during the            spring in Florida.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about two to three            days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3 cm.        -   Flower size.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Three in a single whorl. Shape,            free part: Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acuminate. Base:            Truncate, fused at the base. Margin: Entire. Length: About            2.25 cm. Width at base of free part: About 3 mm. Texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly            glossy. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper (inner)            surface: Close to 93C; towards the base, close to NN155D.            When opening and fully opened, lower (outer) surface: Close            to 93B; towards the base, close to NN155D.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: One. Shape: Narrowly and            elongated deltoid. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Membranous and            translucent. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145D.        -   Sepals.—Not observed on plants of the new Neoregelia.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Typically erect. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to NN155D.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Depending on position in the            inflorescence, typically erect to outward and curving            upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 157A.        -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: Six. Filament length: About 1            cm; partially adnate to the petals. Filament color: Close to            NN155D. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length: About 2 mm.            Anther color: Close to 158C. Pollen amount: None observed.        -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About            1.25 cm. Stigma shape: Elongated oblong. Stigma color: Close            to 157C. Style length: About 8 mm. Style color: Close to            NN155D. Ovary color: Close to 155A to 155B.        -   Fruits and seeds.—To date, fruit and seed production have            not been observed on plants of the new Neoregelia.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Neoregelia have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 2° C. to about    37° C.-   Interior & garden performance: Plants of the new Neoregelia have    been observed to have good postproduction longevity under interior    conditions, to have good garden performance and to tolerate    temperatures ranging from 2° C. to 37° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, resistance to pathogens and    pests common to Neoregelia plants has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Neoregelia plant named ‘Gaia’ asillustrated and described.